windflower

by Moon Chung-hee

The poems in this volume are selected and translated from Moon Chung-hee's poetry written over three decades. They are short lyrical pieces of poignant self-examination, evoking moments of bewilderment and hopeful resignation to the passage of time and imprisoning conditions of life. Translated by Wolhee Choe and Robert E. Hawks

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2004

Reviews

[Yifei Men · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is my first encounter with translated poetry from a Korean writer, and I really enjoyed it. Beautiful, short lyric pieces imbued with a touch of melancholy -- lamenting and celebrating the passage of time, with nostalgia, a tinge of regret, a renewed sorrow, stoicism, clarity. It calls to mind the organic imperfections of a celadon pot -- simple yet beautiful in its starkness, measured and immeasurably deep.

One of my favorites:

A Song of Dawn

I read awake at dawn
a book of poems that have
taught me neither how to live nor how to age.
I wait for morning to arrive desiring
to ride with these poems a little longer
in distant and beautiful places.
At the door the morning paper awaits
with its rumors of people
whose presence I cannot deny at times.
My only companion is poetry
at this most beautiful dawn of all dawns.
I'm reading a book of poems
in translucent language
in cool silence.